The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-19

A Warfare, Which Is Likely Result In a
Great Waste of Words.
washin Rton Special.
There is an interesting controversy between
the Commissioner of Pensions and the Adjutant-
general Of the army in progress. which is
likely to develop into warfare of unkind words
IL Secretary Endicott does not soon play the role
OF peace maker. At present the communications
between Commissioner Black and General Drum
courteousy worded. Only an occasional
use of sarcasm has been INDUCED in by either.
AS the correspondence has increased so has the
amount of sarcasm. The trouble is the result
of what Commissioner Black terms General
Drums arbitrary and uncertain manner of
dealing with desertion cases 1t is the desire
Of Commissioners Black to dispose of
greater number of pension claims during his
term than any of his predecessors did
in theirs. General Drum. on the other hand.
does not believe in great haste. He is satisfied
TO have his Office go along in a peaceful, harm
less sort of way. but is great stickler for his
rights, and resents any encroachment upon bis
authority. It has been the custom of his Office
TO deal directly with the soldiers when applica-
tions are made to him for the removal of charges
of desertion. Sometime upon the urgent recon-
mendatou of Commissioner Black, he has
removed q charge of desertion without any other
evidence than that received from the Pension
Office This has only been DONE however, when
the records showed that the charges should not
have been made. In the vast majority of
cases the Adjutant-eeneral communicates
directly with the soldiers, ignoring the
evidence procured by the Pension
Office. This method of dealing with
desertion cases has greatly vexed Commissioner
Black. He has written official complaints to
the Secretary of War. in which he cites many
cases whore the course pursued by the Adjutant-
general has entailed unnecessary hardship
many deserving pension claimants He charges
that General Drum has caused the government
needless expense and that benefit is derived
from the custom" of his Office other than the
satisfaction it is to him to exercise arbitrary
power. He claims that his Office is obliged TO
gather all possible evidence concerning the army
career of a soldier before allowing him pen
sion and consequently is enabled, when for
wardng to the Adjutant-general recon-
mendation that the charge of desertion
he removed, also TO transmit all evidence posi-
BILE to be procured as to the propriety of remov-
ing it. This, he claims. is all that should be
Quired, and the action of the Adjutant-general
in calling for the same evidence direct from the
soldier has no other purpose than to show that
he 10 still the AdjutaDt- general of the army.
breezy communication of the Commissioner of
Pensions, in which he virtually retires behind
the law and established custom. He states that
though the Commissioner has ample time to
gather in evidence in desertion cases, it
never intended that he 1.-THE Adjutant-generall
should be guided by such evidence. The mat
ter OF removing charges of desertion ia entirely
within his jurisdiction. and he says. in effect,
that he does not propose to be interfered with in
the exercise of his authority by the Commits
eioner OF Pepsiops